Antifouling fishing sinker

ABSTRACT

A shroud adapted to surround a fishing line sinker to reduce the tendency of said sinker from becoming fouled on the lake or stream bottom, the shroud being formed from a deformable plastic material. The shroud is preferably in the shape of a cylinder having one end thereof formed into a hemispherical dome. An aperture is formed in the dome to permit a swivel or other connector to be forcibly passed therethrough for connection to a fish line.

[ 51 June 6,1972

[54] ANTIFOULING FISHING SINKER [72] Inventor: John H. Lamb, 1617Maryland Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minn. 55426 [22] Filed: Mar. 12,1970 [21] Appl. No.: 19,053

[5 2] U.S. Cl ..43/44.97

' [51 Int. Cl. ..A0lk 95/00 [58] Field of Search ..43/44.97, 41.2, 41

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,292,743 8/1942 Cordry..43/4l.2

3,151,414 10/1964 Hoerner ..43/44.97

3,318,037 5/1967 Harrison et a]. ..43/44.97 X

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 68,232 5/1946 Norway ..43/4l 166,4873/1959 Sweden ..43/4 I .2

OTHER PUBLICATIONS The Condensed Chemical Dictionary. ReinholdPublishing Corp., New York, NY. 6th edition, page 235, 1962 PrimaryExaminerSamuel Koren Assistant Examiner-Daniel J. Leach Attorney- Thomas.l. Nikolai ABSIRACT 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 6 I972 Fig.

INVENTOR JOHN H. LAMB ATTORNEY ANTIFOULING FISHING SINKER BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1 have found that in fishing for certain species it isdesirable to utilize a leader between the sinker and the lure in whichthe hooks are located such that the sinker is allowed to intermittentlycontact or rest on the lake or stream bottom. In trolling, or casting,however, it frequently happens that the sinker will become lodgedbetween rocks or other formations on the bottom of the lake or stream.Lead sinkers are inclined to wedge tightly between rocks because of thesoft material of which they are formed. In order to reduce the tendencyfor the sinker to become lodged, I have designed a shroud for the :inkerfrom a thick deformable plastic material which becomes quite slipperywhen wet. With the shroud surrounding the sinker, the sinker assembly isless subject to becoming wedged between the rocks when trolling or usingrapid strearn fishing techniques.

The features of the invention can best be understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the apparatus comprising the preferredembodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 2 illustrates the manner in which the invention is used.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown in ghost line form a conventionalfishing sinker which may be formed from lead or other suitable material.The sinker has an eye at each end and afiixed to the eye at one end is aswivel 12 of conventional design.

Surrounding the sinker is a relatively thick, tough, deformable,slippery-when-wet plastic shroud 14 which is preferably cylindrical inshape but which has a hemispherical domeshaped portion 16 integrallyformed at one end thereof. An aperture 18 extends through the top of thedome and has a diameter slightly smaller than the greatest diameter ofthe swivel to permit the swivel to be forcibly passed therethrough to aposition outside of the shroud.

In FIG. 2, a fishing lure 20 is connected by a long leader 22 to the eyeat the trailing end of the sinker so that the lure 20 is allowed tofloat a predetermined distance above the bottom 24 of the lake or river.The shroud l4 surrounds the sinker as is shown in FIG. 1. The leadingend of the sinker is connected through a swivel to the fish line 26leading to the fisherman (not shown).

While trolling or casting, the sinker encased in the shroud 14 is usedto control the lure distance from the bottom. Because of the rounded endof the shroud, the deformable nature of the material from which it isformed, and the slipperiness of the shroud when wet the assembly resistsbecoming wedged between rocks and the like and facilitates fishing.

I have found that polyvinyl chloride plastic having a thickness in therange of 1/ 16th inch to 16th inch to be optimum, but these dimensionsare not critical. Also, it is possible that a shroud having a shapediffering from that shown may be suitable.

Having described the preferred embodiment of my invention, what I desireto protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination:

A fishing line sinker having a swivel affixed to one end thereof,

a hollow cylindrically-shaped member formed from a deformable plasticmaterial, having a specific gravity greater than one said cylinderhaving a substantially spherical dome-shaped portion integrally formedat one end thereof, said dome-shaped portion having an aperture of adiameter slightly smaller than the greatest diameter of said swiveltherethrough, said sinker being contained within said member with saidswivel disposed outside of said member during the time that said memberis immersed in water.

1. In combination: A fishing line sinker having a swivel affixed to oneend thereof, a hollow cylindrically-shaped member formed from adeformable plastic material, having a specific gravity greater than onesaid cylinder having a substantially spherical dome-shaped portionintegrally formed at one end thereof, said dome-shaped portion having anaperture of a diameter slightly smaller than the greatest diameter ofsaid swivel therethrough, said sinker being contained within said memberwith said swivel disposed outside of said member during the time thatsaid member is immersed in water.